The Hebrew word lûwz, represented by H3869, identifies a type of tree, defined as some kind of nuttree, perhaps the almond; hazel. It is an exceptionally rare word in the Bible, appearing just 1 time in 1 unique verse. Its singular use means its entire scriptural identity is tied to one specific event.
The sole appearance of H3869 is in Genesis 30:37. In this passage, Jacob H3290 took H3947 rods H4731 from the hazel tree, along with green H3892 poplar H3839 and chestnut tree H6196. He then pilled H6478 white H3836 strakes in them, making the white appear H4286 as part of a strategy to influence the breeding of his flocks.
Several words from this context help illuminate the use of hazel:
- H3839 libneh (poplar): This tree is listed immediately with hazel as a source for the rods Jacob prepared, indicating they were used together Genesis 30:37.
- H6196 ʻarmôwn (chestnut tree): This is the third type of tree Jacob used, grouped with hazel and poplar to create the peeled rods Genesis 30:37.
- H4731 maqqêl (rod, (hand-)staff): This is the object that was fashioned from the hazel branch. This word can also signify a tool of guidance or covenant, such as the two staves Zechariah took named Beauty and Bands Zechariah 11:7.
- H6478 pâtsal (to peel; pill): This verb describes the action performed on the rods of hazel, as Jacob pilled them to create white strakes Genesis 30:37.
While H3869 itself has no direct theological weight, the context in which it is found connects to broader biblical themes:
- Patriarchal Providence: The event involves Jacob H3290, a key patriarch through whom God's covenant promises are passed. God's faithfulness to "the house of Jacob" is a recurring theme Isaiah 58:1.
- Symbols of Action and Instrument: The rod H4731 Jacob fashions from the hazel is a recurring biblical symbol. A rod can represent an instrument of God's work, as when Jeremiah sees a rod of an almond tree Jeremiah 1:11, or a symbol of covenant Zechariah 11:10.
- Divine Sovereignty over Nature: The story involves manipulating green H3892 rods. This connects to the larger theme of God's power over the natural world, as when the LORD declares He can dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish Ezekiel 17:24.
In summary, lûwz H3869 is a highly specific botanical term whose entire scriptural meaning is derived from its single appearance in Genesis 30:37. While the word itself is not theological, its narrative context links it to the foundational patriarch Jacob H3290 and to significant biblical symbols like the rod H4731. The use of hazel in this passage provides a concrete detail in a story central to the formation of the tribes of Israel.
TRV